"We're representing all of Lafayette's teams," said Smith, a Washington Township (N.J.) resident and Warren Hills Regional High School graduate. "We want to be an inspiration for all the other Lafayette teams and for the school. People overlook small liberal arts colleges. We want to show we can be competitive with anybody."

The Leopards have done so to date. They enter the league tournament at 15-1 overall, unbeaten in the league and will host No. 4 seed Colgate (4-12) at Rappolt Field at Metzgar Fields Athletic Complex at noon today. American and Bucknell play in the ensuing semifinal. The championship game will be 3 p.m. Saturday at Rappolt Field.

The Leopards, who last played Sunday in a 7-0 win over Georgetown, endured an unusual week of preparation thanks to Superstorm Sandy. The campus was without electricity and that meant cold, dark rooms and icy showers and no classes.

"I think it was actually a blessing in disguise," Smith said. "Without classes we got to rest more and I could catch up on my sleep. Without classes we could just concentrate on field hockey. It felt like preseason again."

In the preseason, the Leopards' goal was to host the league tournament. Lafayette won the tourney last fall but did not host.

"We have all been waiting for this moment and it's finally here," Smith said. "Everybody is fired up and we've had some really competitive (intrasquad) scrimmages this week. They've been more competitive than some of the games we have played lately. We've been playing our passing game really well, and the scores have been reflecting that, and we're able to get subs in and they can contribute as well. We're at a very good point."

Smith has scored three goals this season to boost the Lafayette attack and said she's become a more assertive player.

"I've gotten a lot stronger overall (since high school) and I am stronger and more confident on the ball," Smith said. "This season I wanted to work on my fitness, playing all 70 minutes hard, and I definitely feel I accomplished that."

Smith, an economics major, credited team strength-and-conditioning workouts with boosting the team.

"We didn't have the (twice-weekly) team lifts when I was a freshman and I think our (younger players) really benefit from them," she said. "It's a complete positive for the team."

Those workouts aren't all that's changed for Lafayette's program in the last few years.

"I definitely did not expect the kind of success we have had when I came here as a freshman," Smith said. "We've done a complete 360-degree turnaround. This is what we have all worked so hard for and we're on cloud nine now."

An NCAA tournament berth awaits Lafayette if the Leopards win the league tourney. While they are heavily favored, this would not be a good time for a lapse.

"We always stress sticking to the game plan," Smith said. "If we stray away from our game plans we can get into problems. If we pay attention to the game plan, we should come away with a championship."